T E story goes that Carol Channing once decided, while on tour with a show staged by Gower Cham- pion, to take a few liberties with the choreography Chided for her actions by one of Mr. Champion's subalterns, Miss Channing turned to the young man and announced: "I'm Gower now." Randy Skinner, the choreographer of "Ain't Broadway Grand," a mu- sical that starts previews this week at the Lunt-Fontanne, has the résumé, if not the personal- i ty, to make a similar claim. It was Mr. Champion who gave him his first major-league op- f portunity, in 1980, by hiring him as dance assistant on "42nd Street' '-an assignment whose duties increased exponentially when Mr. Champion died on the day of the musical's Broadway openIng. While he was extremely grate- ful for the work, Mr. Skinner says, it was Fred and Ginger, not Gower and Marge-Marge being Champion's first wife and or fl mer da d nc h e.partner- d w o ha h e Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in "The Song of Jacob Zulu." In uence 1m most ur1ng IS career. That impact was only heightened by his experience choreographing and playing the leading man in a 1985 pro- duction of "Babes in Arms" that Ginger Rogers directed, but its culmination may be his work on "You're My Star," a Fred- and-Ginger-like number that he's put together for the ne\\' show. Since "Ain't Broadway Grand" is based on the life of showman Mike Todd, whose formula for success consisted of girls and gags, Mr. Skinner is working on several other glam- our-filled numbers as well. 10 THE THEATRE On with the Show' '\ OPENINGS AND PREVIEWS (Please call the Phone number listed with the theatre for schedule and ticket information.) AIt 'T BROADWAY GRAND-Mike Burstyn portrays Mike Todd in this musical comedy. The score is by Mitch Leigh, the book is by Thomas Meehan and Lee Adams, and the lyrics are by Mr. Adams. Directed by Scott Harris. Previews begin March 26. (Lunt- Fontdnne, 205 W. 46th St 307-4100) ANOTHER TIME-A 1989 play by Ronald Harwood, about a Jewish family in South Africa. Malcolm McDowell, Marian Seldes, Joan Copeland, Michael Lombdrd, and James Waterston make up the CdSt. Previews through March 26. Open Mdrch 27 at 8. (American Jewish Theatre. 307 W. 26th St. 633-9797.) BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID-A new musiCdl revue, directed by Kathy N ajimy. The sing- ers are Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson, Sue Mosher, and Lillias White. Preview on March 24. Opens March 25 at 8 (Club 53, at the New York Hilton, Sixth Ave. at 53rd St. 261-5853.) CANDIDA-Shaw's play, with Mary Steenburgen. Robert Foxworth, and Robert Sean Leonard. Gloria Muzio directed. Two previews on March 24 Opens March 25 at 7. (Round- about, Broadway at 45th St. 869-8400.) GOING5 ON ABOUT TOWN S.M .T.W. T. F.S I 24 25 26 1 27 28 29 30 -"""" )!, ,.1 \ ,} ' ' \ . -:J ' .,,\. ' ........,... I I j If) 4' : ',-...1, J } \ f /r 'II!, Æ- t \\'1i' 1 1 " \;q "I 61 / JENNY KEEPS T ALKING-A new play by Richard Greenberg, with Leslie Ayvazian. This show runs in repertory with "Pretty Fire." In previews. (Manhattan Theatre Club, at City Center, 131 W. 55th St. 581-1212.) LAUREEN'S WHEREABOUTS-A play by Larry Ketron. The cast comprises Mark Blum, Mia Dillon, Carolyn McCormick, Kevin O'Rourke, dnd Scott Sowers. Previews through March 27. Opens March 28 at 7:30. (WPA Theatre. 519 W. 23rd St. 206-0523.) NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHop-Presenting two plays by Caryl Churchill, in rotating repertory: OWN- ERS, from 1972, and TRAPS, from 1977. Both are in previews. (79 E. 4th St. 302-6989.) ONE SHOE OFF-Jeffrey DeM unn, Daniel Gerroll, Mary Beth Hurt, Brian Kerwin, and Jenni- fer Tilly constitute the cast of a new play by Tina Howe. In previews. (Public, 425 Lafayette St. 598-7150.) PRETTY FIRE-A one-woman play written by, and starring, Charlayne Woodard. It runs in repertory with "Jenny Keeps Talking." Pre- views begin March 26 (Manhattan Theatre Club, at City Center, 131 W. 55th St. 581-1212.) PUTTING IT TOGETHER-This celebration of Stephen Sondheim's music was first seen last year in Oxford, England. With Julie Andrews, Stephen Collins, Christopher Durang, Michael Rupert, and Rachel York. In pre- views. (Manhattan Theatre Club, at City Center, 131 W. 55th St. 581-1212.) REDWOOD CURTAIN-Jeff Daniels stars in a play by Lanford Wilson. Marshall W. Mason was the director. Previews through March 28. Opens March 30 at 6:30. (Brooks Atkinson, 256 \\-. 47th St 307-4100.) THE SONG OF JACOB ZULu-Tug Yourgrau's play is ç;et in South Africa and concerns a young man accused of bombing a mall. Zakes Mokae, K. Todd Freeman, and the musical group Ladysmith Black Mambazo (led by Joseph Shabalala) are featured. Opens March 24 at 6:45. (Plymouth, 236 W. 45th St. 239-6200.) THREE HOTELS-A new play by Jon Robin Baitz, with Christine Lahti and Ron Rifkin. In preview . (Circle Repertory Company, 99 Seventh AVe. S. 924-7100.) THREE MEN ON A HORSE-Jack Klugman and Tony Randall star in the National Actors Theatre's revival of a comedy by John Cecil Holm and George ALbott. In pre- views. (Lyceum, 149 W. 45th St. 239- 6280. ) THE WHO'S liT OMMY"- That deaf, dumb, and blind kid comes to Broadway. Pete Town- shend and director Des McAnuff have adapted the classic rock opera for the stage. Previews begin March 29. (St. James, 246 W. 44th St. 239-6200) WIDOWERS' HousEs-The PearJ Theatre Company presents Shaw's first play. Previews begin March 26. (Pearl, 125 W. 22nd St. 645-7708.) ' ,ç::.,.,., ",- (t j r 'I 'I.""'" '\ .: i : ! / l/ -----.- , þ.. 1 OPENED RECENTLY AVEN' U Boys-A play by Frank Pugliese, with Ron Eldard, Michael Imperioli, Lucinda Jenney, Cynthia Mdrtells, Adrian Pasdar, and Lili Taylor. Oohn Houseman, 450 W. 42nd St. 564-8038.) THE BEST OF FRIENDS-A play by Hugh White- more, with Roy Dotrice, Michael Allinson, and Diana Douglas The work is about George Bernard Shaw and two of his friends, Sir Sydney Cockerell and Dame Laurentia McLachlan, the Abbess of Stanbrook. (Westside, 407 W. 43rd St. 307-4100.) THE CONFESSIONS OF STEPIN FETCHIT-A play writ- ten by Matt Robinson and based on the life of the actor Lincoln Perry (American Place, 111 W. 46th St. 840-3074.) A COUPLE OF BLAGUARDS- The actors Frank and Malachy McCourt reminisce about their Irish childhood. (Irish Arts Center, 553 W. 51st St 757-3318.) FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS-A play, by Alan Ball (a writer with star sitcom potential) about bridesmaids in a wedding in Knoxville, Tennessee. Everything here- the directIon, the cast, the dress-is peachy. (Manhattan Cldss Company, 120 W. 28th St. 727-7756.) FOOL MooN-BiU Irwin and David Shiner are the inspired clowns in d how that is perfec- tion itself. The only sound you'll hear is the merry musiC' of the Red Clay Ramblers and the abundant laughter of the audience. (3/8/93) (Richard Rodgers, 226 W. 46th St. 221-1211.) FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1993-0nce again. d gal- axy of parodies that sharpen into atire. This edition is as funny as most of its predecessors. Among the new shows under consideration are "Guys and Dolls" and "Falsettos," and the holdovers include "Les Misérables" and "The Phantom of the Op- 9 era" Gerard Alessandrini, as if you had to be told, is the inspired writer and director, and Susanne Blakeslee, Dorothy Kiara, Brad Oscar, and Craig Wells are the splendid performers, doing a large assortment of roles. :3S